tank volume

[Laracroft]

Hi,

I have a 100l tank for the Zebra Pleco's only. As they are a bottom dweller fish, I was wondering, filling the tank to the top is it really neccesary?

[hein24]

I guess this depends from one person to another. My plec loves dwelling in all sections of the tank, I guess you need to wait for someone like Altum to comment on this. IMO fill the tank gives them alot of room to enjoy the full tank.

Regards
Hein

[Big G]

I would fill the tank to the top, so that you have a higher volume.....

If you have lower volume, for the same number of fish, your nitrates will build up to a higher level faster than for the higher volume of water, which would mean you would have to do more regular water changes to keep nitrates low. This can be a stress factor for the fish, and will disturb them.

Also, these fish do like to swim around during the night, so a larger volume will benefit this.

Hope that helps?

So are these 'true' Zebra's??

Regards
G!

[Laracroft]

Big G, yip they are the real mccoy:) I have 4 of them, and planning to increase to 6.

[Big G]

I wish I had that kind of money! Good luck to you!

G!

[f-fish]

Larger water volumes are easier to maintain. This is true as a heat store and water column health. The only time when I would do low water levels is when you are doing a zero filtration / water movement tank .. then you want a bigger surface area vs water volume.

What you could consider is to increase the substrate depth if you can get some water movement through it ... if I recall you corrected me that these fish are not veg heads so you probably have bigger waste if you feed them more protean - then extra filtration via the substrate could help.

Later Ferdie

[Big G]

So, erm, when are we going to see some pics? Or have I missed that thread?

Cheers!
G!

[Laracroft]

7995Big G here is a lucky picture which I was able to take

[Big G]

Nice!!

I would love to have some of those in my tank! Oh well, off to rob a bank I guess?

Cheers!
G!

[ACE007]

Laracroft I think if you get these to breed, they going to pay themselves in no time...

Beautiful looking fish also.

[Laracroft]

Thanks, hope they do breed, they still babies measuring about 4-5 cm.

[Zoom]

Give them to Khalid... he'll get them to breed in not time! He seems gifted in that area!

[Laracroft]

Well hopefully he will have his soon, or he already has them??

[Khalid]

Not too sue of that any more, with all my time taken up with university studies I have neglected my plecos resulting in a few deaths.
Just last night I discovered that my prized wild L183 female was trapped in the males cave and died.
Very frustrating to loose a fish that way.

On a lighter note got a few hundred eggs in the normal BN Last Wednesday, glad I got the females in sync again.
Zebs are a different kettle of fish, I would opt to keep the volume high as I have experienced L to be more stressed in lower, shallower water.
Ever seen a pleco break water like a Marlin ?

[Laracroft]

This was just a question regarding the amount of water in the tank, I have never drop the water levels on these guys, to scared I will do something and then .........

Now awaiting to see if my bristle nose eggs will hatch.